As there was nothing to be said, and neither wished to give occasion for it to be alleged that he had been the first to leave the range of fire, they would have remained there for a long time testing each other's courage had it not been that just then they heard the rattle of musketry and a muffled shout almost behind them in the wood.
The French had attacked the men collecting wood in the copse.
It was no longer possible for the hussars to retreat with the infantry.
They were cut off from the line of retreat on the left by the French.
However inconvenient the position, it was now necessary to attack in order to cut away through for themselves.